American Girl Encourages Play and Reading
by Theresa Carpine2/5/2009 11:27:49 AM
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If you have a pre-teen daughter, you’ve undoubtedly heard of the American Girls series. The line of dolls, books, and more have been simultaneously entertaining and enlightening young girls about American history and issues for over 20 years.
Pleasant T. Rowland started the line in 1986 to offer young girls an alternative to baby dolls and adult/teen dolls. She decided to characterize each girl by various eras in American history.
Initially the line included three girls; throughout the years, six more historical characters have been added to the collection, ranging in timeframes from the pre-American settlement of the Northwest to the struggle for freedom during the Civil War to the turbulent Vietnam War-era of the 1970s.
The dolls stand 18-inches tall with cloth bodies and vinyl heads and limbs. Dolls are posable for playtimes or display. The books are best for readers age 9 to 12, and at less than 100 pages, they’re great chapter books for early readers.
The collection, acquired by Mattel, Inc. in 1998, has expanded its product vision to include a magazine, AG Best Friend dolls, contemporary "Just Like You" and "Girl of the Year" dolls that emphasis the impact that girls today have on history, and Bitty Baby dolls for younger girls (ages three and up).
Seven American Girl stores have even opened in major cities across the United States where you can buy products, throw a birthday party, or take part in a special craft or activity event.
American Girls have also made their way on to the small and big screen. Samantha, Felicity, and Molly have all been featured in made for TV movies and Kit, a Great Depression-era girl, was the subject of a theatrically-released movie in the summer of 2008. For the first time, this year’s Girl of the Year doll was released with a direct-to-DVD feature, “Chrissa Stands Strong,” with a message about learning how to deal with bullies.
Although I never had an American Girl doll of my own when I was growing-up, I will always have fond memories of simply reading American Girl books and learning to identify with a girl whose life was very different from mine, but the important things like family and friends, kindness, respect, and honesty were still valued, no matter what was happening in the world.
Find out more about American Girl at their website. You can order American Girls books and dolls online or locally through Village Books. Or check out the books and magazines through the Bellingham Public Library and Whatcom County Libraries!